WHIRLPOOL

Pretzel-like plot twists drive this first whodunit in The Julesburg Mysteries series by an award-winning romance writer for both the general and inspirational market. Former high school "porky princess" Stefanie Canfield is now a cute, svelte divorcée who runs the Fit 'n' Fun health club. She's bitter about God, who she believes has abandoned her. Stress brought about by a car accident and exacerbated by Hunter Blackwell divorcing her for live-in blonde "liposuction queen" Trisha Duvall has caused Stefanie to occasionally black out and lose her memory. When the family lumber mill burns down, Stefanie is the prime suspect. She's thrown together with her old love interest, insurance investigator Ryan Harrison, who's determined to prove that Stefanie is innocent. Romance is, of course, rekindled. But when Trisha turns up dead, Stefanie despairs. Could she have experienced an "episode" and killed Trisha? Or was it the devious Hunter? Or her good friend Val Halstead, who has a mysterious link to Trisha? Or Val's ex-husband Damon Halstead, the creepy bestselling author of occult mysteries? A few far-fetched developments make the reader wince; Stefanie seems determined to be stupid—suspected of torching the mill, she risks jail time by breaking into Hunter's home. She also invites the hated Hunter to a cozy dinner for two, and Hunter accepts, despite his belief that Stefanie murdered his fiancée. However, McCourtney's colorful characters help sustain the momentum right up to the surprising conclusion. With the Christian market clamoring for suspense novels, this should entertain both McCourtney's romance following and CBA mystery buffs. (Feb.)